Jordan Kyrou, the 27-year-old right winger for the St. Louis Blues, continues to be a prominent name in the NHL trade rumor mill, with persistent reports linking him to the Montreal Canadiens. This speculation intensified leading up to last month’s NHL Draft and has not subsided, even with Kyrou’s no-trade clause now in effect.
Following the Canadiens’ acquisition of defenseman Noah Dobson on June 27, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported that Montreal was far from done with its trade activity and was among several teams expressing interest in Kyrou.
The Canadiens are reportedly in the market for a second-line center but remain open to adding a skilled scoring winger.
LeBrun had previously indicated uncertainty regarding how serious Blues GM Doug Armstrong was about moving Kyrou, who is in the third year of an eight-year contract carrying an average annual value of $8.125 million. He also noted that Kyrou’s no-trade clause became active on July 1. Despite this, LeBrun later confirmed that Montreal’s interest in Kyrou remained strong throughout the draft weekend, suggesting it would require multiple assets for the Canadiens to complete such a deal.
Recent developments in St. Louis might complicate a potential trade, as The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford reported on June 28 that the Blues were looking for a center – a position Montreal is not in a strong position to offer. However, Armstrong has since addressed this need by signing centers Pius Suter and Nick Bjugstad in free agency.
Despite the complexities of Kyrou’s no-trade clause, sources continue to claim Montreal’s pursuit. RG.Org’s Marco D’Amico reported that the Canadiens are still targeting the Blues winger as they aim to bolster their top-six forward group.
The two teams do have recent trade history, with Montreal having sent defenseman Logan Mailloux to St. Louis in exchange for gritty winger Zack Bolduc. However, the feasibility of the Canadiens landing Kyrou now hinges on two significant factors: Kyrou’s willingness to waive his no-trade clause, and Montreal’s capacity to meet what is expected to be a steep asking price from the Blues. Both scenarios, as reports suggest, appear remote at this time.